Exhibitor.



J. S. FRITZ.

EXHIBITOR.

APP'LICATloN FILED Nov. 19. 1913.

1,165,239. Patented Deo. 21, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH co..wAsH1NGTUN, D. C.

J. S. FRITZ.

EXHIBITOR.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. I9.4 m13. t

1,165,239. I Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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atta/wuz COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cowAsnING1-QN, D. c.

JACOB S. FRITZ, OF ZANESVILLE, OHIO.

EXHIBITOR.

aims particularly to provide a-toy which will, 1n a measure, simulate the ordinary moving picture theater. In carrying forth this idea, I have provided means for displaying numerous pictures through an opening in a casing, these pictures being so mounted that they may be changed at will and continuously, if desired, by the operation of a handle element. More specifically, I employ a film strip which carries a plurality of pictures and which film strip is attached to roller elements designed to be rotated. -In order that the film strip may always be in the same relative position before the opening in the casing, I have provided two idle rollers spaced upon opposite sides of such opening and two main rollers upon which the ilm strip may be woundy and unwound.

To guard against sagging of the film strip and to prevent its too rapid presenting of the pictures, I have provided the main feed rolls with a retarding means, preferably of a frictional nature, which retarding means are made adjustable to alter the tautness of the film strip.

I also aim to make my structure of a nature that it may be very readily dismantled and adapted for repair. I

rIhe preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure 1 represents a. front elevation of my toy, Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the structure shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, and, Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

In carrying forth my invention, I have provided a base board 1, upon which is mounted the main frame structure shown as comprising the two U-shaped members 2 and 3, each provided with outwardly bent ends 4 and attached to the base board itself by Specification of Letters Patent.

p Appiication filed November 19, 191s.

Patented Dec. 21,1915.

Serial No. 801,803.

means of the screws 5. Spanning the distance between the upper portions of the U- shaped members 2 and 3 are bracing members 6, heldin their applied positions by bolt and 'nut structures 7 and having upwardly turned extremities, as shown at 8. These upturned portions 8 serve as a means for holding the front wall 9 of the main casing, as is clearly shown at 10, surrounding the supporting structure. The front wall 9 may be of a decorative nature, as shown in Fig. 1, and is centrally provided with an opening 11 through which the pictures maybe displayed, the base of this front wall being lheld in position by a supplemental strip shown at 12. The remaining portions of the inclosure may be formed of pasteboard or any desired material, the casing proper being designated by the numeral 13 and reference to Fig. 2, will show that a door 14 is provided inits rear wall having a fastening turn-button 15 to hold the same in its locked position. This rear door may be used for purposes of either renewing the film strip to be presently described, or for purposes of inspection. Further, one side wall of the casing 13 is provided with a door shown in Fig. 4 at 16, this door being hingedly mounted by means of hinges 17 and having a locking means shown diagrammatieally at 18.

Reference toy Fig. 2 will show that the front U-shaped member 3 is disposed in close proximity to the front wall 9 of the casing and that this U-shaped member carries between its vertical legs, idler rollers 19. Likewise, the rear U-shaped member 2, also carries main rolls 20 and 21, these rolls being mounted in a manner to be close to each other and each rigidly carrying the ends of a film strip 22. Upon this film strip are mounted a plurality of pictures of any type, rwhich pictures will be successively presented through the opening 11 upon rotation of the correct main roll. Both ends of this film strip may further be provided with a blank space to serve the purpose of a curtain, it being understood that the strip may be either of cloth upon which are pasted the pictures or that the pictures themselves may be made in one continuous strip of any desired material.

In order that the film strip 22 may at all times be sufficiently taut to prevent sagging, I have shown in Fig. 3 a peculiar manner of mounting the same. Into opposite ends of the `main rolls, I preferably screw spindles 23 and 24, the spindles 23 being provided with slotted ends, as shown at 25 and a transverse pin 26 to cooperate with the slotted ends of a handle element 27. Further, there is interposed between the disks 28 and .the member 2, washers 29 which bear against the corresponding leg of the U-shaped member 2. The opposite ends ofthe main rolls are equipped in a similar manner, although these ends preferably carry the retardin'g or binding means already referred to. These binding means'take the form of washers 30, between which is mounted a washer of felt or other compressible material 3l. Placing a screw driver in the slotted ends of the spindles 24C and rotating the samewill cause anfnward movement of these screws, whereby their heads will bear against the washers 33 on-the outside of the casing and serve to compress the felt strip 3l between the two washersBO and the disks 32. When the desired degree of tautness has been attained,

the handle 27 may be applied to the correct main roll and rotated, whereby the film strip 22 will be unrolled from one and on to the other, successively presenting the pictures to 'be displayed'before the opening l1 in the front wall. The peculiar location ofthe idle'rjrolls 19, serves to maintain the same i .relative position for all of the pictures.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent,

an opening in its front wall, a pair Vof rollers within said casing, spindles passing through the side wall of the casing and screwed into said rollers to form their means of support,

a pairk of washers carried by the spindles at` one end of each of said rollers, aV feltmember disposedA between the washers of each pair to.` form afriction member when said washers are drawn together by said spindles,

a film strip having its ends attached to bothy of saidrollers, and means for rotating said rollers. v i' In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature 1n presence of two witnesses.

JACOB s.` FRITZ.

l/Vitnesses:

l/VALTER E. 1L. BooK, A. L. PHELrs.

v Copies of this patent may be obtained forffve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patent:

Washington D. C. 

